CINEMATIC REVELATIONS allows me the luxury of writing, editing and archiving my film and television reviews. Some reviews appeared initially in "The Commercial Dispatch" and "The Planet Weekly" and then later in the comment archives at the Internet Movie Database. IMDB.COM, however, imposes a limit on both the number of words and the number of times that an author may revise their comments. I hope that anybody who peruses these expanded reviews will find them useful.

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Saturday, March 29, 2014

"Das Boot" director Wolfgang Petersen shuns the
gods in "Troy" (*** OUT OF ****) but doesn't suffer the consequences. This
loose, long-winded adaptation of Homer's spear-and-sandal classic "The
Iliad," about the legendary siege of the eponymous city and the
hard-bodied combatants, who clashed swords, conjures up not only spectacle on a grand scale
but also delivers charisma on an even grander scale. Traditionally, when we think about
the Trojan War, we think about the adulterous Helen, who started it all when
she cuckolded husband Menelaus and skipped Sparta with youthful Paris. After all,
Helen's claim to fame rests on her comely features that reportedly launched a
thousand ships. On the other hand, this revisionist, 21st century rendition
spends more time admiring the abs of its heroes rather than the eyes of its
anorectic heroines. Consequently, "Troy" ogles Achilles more often
than Helen, and for good reason, too. Not since John Travolta buffed up for Sylvester
Stallone’s abysmal "Staying Alive" (1983) has an actor so
conscientiously dedicated himself to a muscular makeover. Reportedly, Pitt spent six months building up his body. Ironically, he pulled his Achilles tendon during the production. Meanwhile, the producers make sure Brad bares
his body early and often to display his magnificently sculptured biceps and
six-pack. This is not Brad Pitt as we are accustomed to seeing him. He has a signature lunge as Achilles when he delivers the death blow with his sword that he repeats at intervals against his opponents that is visually striking.

Meanwhile, Petersen and scenarist David Benioff omits scenes
of the Greek deities who would have divulged too much and ruined the suspense
and tension in this mortals-only account of events. A blond, bluffed-up Brad Pitt portrays
Achilles as a pugnacious prima Donna.He
thumbs his nose at Agamemnon and lives for the moment in combat when he can
attain his dream of immortality.Compelling
plotting and memorable dialogue bolsters this lengthy, but satisfying
162-minute, epic rehash of history's most celebrated ancient war. Nevertheless,
despite its marathon length, skillful storytelling, and its secular,
down-to-earth, reimagination of Homer, "Troy" has more going for it
than the sum of its shortcomings. An impressive cast, including screen veterans
Peter O'Toole and Brian Cox, Nigel Phelp's astonishing production values, the
seamless integration of computer-generated effects with live action footage and
several superbly staged combat sequences that have no equal in ancient actioneers
offset whatever flaws in this $175-million plus, English language extravaganza.

The larger-than-life action opens in 1200 B.C. King Agamemnon (Brian Cox of "The Glimmer
Man") leads his army out to confront Triopas (Julian Glover of "For
Your Eyes Only") on the field of battle. Agamemnon is an avaricious, warmongering
opportunist. Triopas suggests Agamemnon and he avoid needless bloodshed by
pitting the best of their best against each other. This amusing prologue shows the womanizing
Achilles as the greatest warrior of his day, a "Rambo" of antiquity,
who can whip any adversary. In his
first, on-screen scrap, Achilles takes down an imposing Goliath-like opponent
who makes our protagonist appear puny by comparison. Size counts for little, because the smaller
Achilles displays his agility in slaying his adversary with a single blow!"Perfect Storm" director Petersen
choreographs the action sequences with considerable flair and imagination,
thanks in part to veteran James Bond stuntman Simon Crane.

The hand-to-hand combat appears not only believable, but also the actors wield
their swords, shields, and spears with credible ferocity. Later battles qualify as more than just
aimless mob warfare with splendidly clad extras roughhousing it with their
counterparts. Watch the way Achilles and his mercenaries cover themselves with
their shields to repulse wave after wave of arrows. The participants wield their armor with as
much savvy as their swords and spears.Meantime, the dialogue scenes that intersperse the gritty action are
just as memorable. The theme of immortality pervades this fine example of an
ancient world epic. Ultimately, anytime
Hollywood handles ancient history, the dialogue possesses an ersatz quality, but
the lines here are insightful.

Indeed, Homer’s classic “The Illiad” inspired this illicit romance that prompted
this war. Anybody who survived the 1960s should remember the classic Greek
sagas such as "Jason and the Argonauts" (1963) and "Clash of the
Titans" (1981). Every action on Earth generated corresponding action in
the realm of the gods with Zeus lording it over his supernatural peers.
"Troy" ignores the gods but doesn’t rank as a lesser effort for this
neglect, though one can imagine how many more millions of dollars and minutes
of time inclusion of the gods might have required. Generally, scenes with the
gods serve to clarify terrestrial conflicts and clue us in on what we might
have missed on Earth.

One of the shortcomings lies in the source material and its lack of
explanation.For example, audiences not
familiar with Trojan mythology might have a difficult time understanding why an
arrow through Achilles' ankle would prove so fatal. Petersen and Benioff scale
down the action to mortals-only, and "Troy" looks as close to what
could have happened if it happened. The beachhead landing (lensed in Mexico)
emerges as the ancient equivalent of the sixth of June, D-Day landings in
Normandy in World War II, with an armada of oar-driven ships crowding the sea
from horizon to horizon. You finally get
to see the famous Trojan horse in the final 45 minutes. Ace lenser Roger Pratt gives "Troy"
a big-screen magnitude with his awesome long shots of virtually anything beyond
arm's reach. When the opposing armies march against each other on the level lands
in front of Troy, the spectacle is breathtaking in its scale.

Although Petersen and Benioff have tampered with the venerable plot, the action
is worth-watching from fade-in to fade-out. Achilles emerges as more of a villain, but
Hector (Eric Bana of "Hulk") looks like a wrongly slain hero. Paris
and Helen emerge as the least effectual lovers in a long time. Naturally,Orlando Bloom wields a bow and arrow.Altogether, "Troy" ranks as a joy to watch!